Electric light flasher



Jan. 26, 1954 N. J. L lTucHY ELECTRIC LIGHT FLASHER Filed June 4, 1951 INVENTOR NOEL. J. LlTUcHY WiWi/1(6) Patented Jan. 26, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in lighting circuits and, more particularly, to an improved 'flasher for mounting directly in an electric line to control the intermittent flashing of one or more electric lamps.

More specincally, the present invention especially proposes a simple flasher unit to be mounted in the lines of a Christmas tree lighting circuit to be an integral part Vthereof in a manner to function to cause the periodic blinking of the lamps the moment the circuit is completed by bel ing connected to a source of electric current.

Still further, the present invention proposes characterizing the iiasher unit by a single elongated base strip of dielectric material upon which the asher parts are mounted in a manner so that the base strip can be enclosed within a casing composedof a pair of intertted tubes slipped into position over said base strip from opposite ends thereof.

Another object of the present invention proposes closing the outer ends of the intertted tubes by discs engaged against inturned end portions of the tubes and which discs are formed with centrally located apertures for the passage of the electric wires which are to be connected to the flasher parts mounted on the base strip.

A further object of the present invention proposes the provision of means for retaining the base strip fixedly in position within the inner tube in a manner so as to retain the base strip against i possible longitudinal movement relative to the tubes.

The present invention further proposes providing the longitudinal side edges of the base strip with laterally extended lugs which engage com..

tion and repair of the flasher parte conta-ined within the casing.

Another object of the present invention proposes various circuit arrangements embodying the flasher unit oi the present invention.

1t is a further objec; of the present invention to construct a iiasher unit which is simple and durable, which is effective for its intendedpurposes and which can be manufactured vand sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the'objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying Jdr'avvings, and to the appended claims in which the various'novel features of the invention aremore particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this'disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspectiveview of a lighting string incorporating a `flasher unit constructed in faccordance vwith the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vlongitudinal sectional View of the flasher unit, per se, taken substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on theline 4-*4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5' is a transversesectional view taken on the line 5-'5 of `Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is van enlarged transverse cross-sectional View of the contact strip and'hea'ter, per se.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the base strip, per se.

Fig. 8 vis'aperspective viewof the inner tube, per se.

Fig. 9 is a schematic Wiring diagram of the lighting string shown in Fig. l in which the i-asher operates as an open circuit iiasher.

Fig. 10 is a vschematic wiring diagram 'in which the flasher is wired to operate as a closed circuit flasher.

Fig. 11 is a schematic wiring diagram in which the flasher is wired to alternately illuminate two lamps.

Fig. 12is a View similar to Fig. 7, but illustratinga slight'modiiication'of the base strip.

The improved `flasher unit, according to the rst form V'of the present'invention shown in Figs. 1 to 9, is' tobe mounted in yposition on an electric wire lprovided at one endwith a conventional plug I6 for insertion into a conventional electric outlet receptacle for supplying the required electric current. rThe wire i5 i-s'extended through the flasher vunit and has a socket El mounted on lits other end into which a conventional lamp I8 is screwed. "The flasher unit functions to cause the lamp i8 toloe intermittently blinked.

The 'asher unit'includes a' base strip 20 of a suitable dielectric material. lThe base strip 20 can be made of ber, hard rubber, Bakelite or one of the synthetic resinous materials. Exe tended along one-:side of the base strip 20, there is a contact strip 2i cibi-metallic construction to have a high yexpansion side and a lowexpansion side. The contact strip 2l is secured to the side of the base strip 28 in a position spaced therefrom by means of an eyelet 22. The eyelet 22 is passed through a complementary hole 28, see Figs. 3, 4 and 7, formed in the base strip 2) adjacent one end thereof and is milled over on the side of the base strip removed from the contact strip 2| To maintain the contact strip 2| spaced from the base strip 23, a spacer washer 24 sleeves the eyelet 22 between the adjacent faces of the base strip 28 and the contact strip 2|. That mounting of the contact strip 2| leaves its other end free to move toward and away from the adjacent side of the base strip 28 as the contact strip becomes alternately heated and cools off.

The contact strip 2| carries at its free end a contact 25. Mounted through the base strip 2| in alignment with the contact 25, there is a contact rivet 26. In the circuit arrangement of Figs. 1 to 9, the contact strip is positioned with its high expansion side facing away from the base strip 28 and with the contact 25 spaced from the contact rivet 26. Thus, when the contact strip 2| is heated, the free end of the contact strip will move toward the base strip 2D engaging the contact 25 with the Contact rivet 26.

yl'he contact strip 2| between its attached end and the contact 25 is enclosed within a sleeve of insulation material 21. The sleeve of insulation material is preferably a piece of heavy paper or asbestos sheeting wrapped about the contact strip 2 I, but if desired can be a tube of any desired dielectric material tted into position on the contact strip. Wound about the contact strip over the sleeve of insulation material 21, there is a heater coil 28 which in this rst circuit arrangement is of the high resistance type. One end of the heater coil 28 is connected to the Contact carrying end of the contact strip 2|. This is accomplished by providing the contact strip 2|, at one side of the contact 25, with a slit 29, see Figs. 2 and 4, extended in from the free end of the contact strip. The end 28a of the heater coil 28 at the free end of the contact strip 2| is wound about that portion of the contact strip 21 between the slit 29 and the adjacent longitudinal side of the contact strip to complete the electric contact with the contact strip. As shown in Fig. 2, the slit 29 extends inward at an oblique angle to the adjacent longitudinal side of the contact strip 2 I. Thus, the material of the tact strip 2| between the slit 29 and the adjacent longitudinal side of the contact strip will be of less width at the inner end of the slit than at the outer end of the slit. This is an important feature, as the end 28a of the heater coil 28 is wound about'the material of the contact strip 2| closely adjacent the inner end of the slit 29 that the convolutions of the end 28a will be retained against sliding off the strip by the greater width of the material of the contact strip at the outer end of the slit.

The material of the contact strip 2| on the side of the slit 29 adjacent the respective longitudinal side of the contact strip is bent out of the plane of the contact strip to provide clearance into which the end 28a of the heater coil can he passed when winding the same about the material of the contact strip at the inner end of the slit.

Mounted through the base strip 28, between the contact rivet 26 and the eyelet 22 which mounts the contact strip 2| in position, there is a tubular contact rivet 30, see Fig. 3. The base strip 2|) is formed with a hole 3I to accommodate the con- 4 tact rivet 38. The other end 28b of the heater coil 28 is extended into the tubular contact rivet 38 and is secured in position by the use of solder 32 or the like.

As shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 9, the electric wire I5 is extended along the side of the base strip 20 removed from the contact strip 2|. The electric wire I5 has two leads I5a and I5b. The lead I5 which extends through the flasher unit is continuous between the plug I6 and the lamp I8. The lead I5b is cut within the flasher unit with the cut ends being bared. The bared end leading from the plug I6 is secured to the contact rivet 26 by solder 33 or the like and is also secured to the tubular contact rivet 39 by the same solder 32 which secures the end 28b oi the heater coil 28 to that tubular contact rivet 30. The other bared end of the lead I5b is extended into the eyelet 22. That other bared end is secured in position within the eyelet 22 by means of solder 34, see Figs. 3 and 4.

A casing 35 is provided for enclosing the base strip 28 and the parts of the asher unit mounted thereon. The casing 35 comprises an inner tube 35 tted into an outer tube 31. Both of the tubes 36 and 31 are preferably made of a dielectric material and, more particularly, those tubes are made of cardboard but may be made of any other dielectric material. One end of the inner tube 36 is closed by a disc 38 which is engaged against the inturned edge portion 36a of that inner tube 36. Thus, the inner tube 36 is slipped into position over the base strip 28 until the adjacent end of the base strip 20 strikes the inner face of the disc 38. Likewise, the one end of the outer tube 31 is closed by a disc 39 which is engaged against the inturned edge portion 31a of the outer tube. With the disc 39 in position, the outer tube 31 is slipped into position over the open end of the inner tube 36 until the disc 39 abuts the adjacent end of the base strip 28, see Figs. 2 and 3. The two discs 38 and 39 are formed of a dielectric material such as cardboard, fiber or the like.

From Figs. 2 and 3, it will be noted that the base strip 28 is of a length slightly greater than the length of the inner tube 36 from the inner face of its disc 38 to its open end. Thus, with the inner end of the base strip 28 abutting the inner face of the disc 38, the other end of the base strip will protrude from the open end of the inner tube 36. That protruding end of the base strip 20 will bear against the inner face of the disc 39 of the outer tube 31 so that when the inner tube 36 is completely in position within the outer tube 31, the base strip 28 will be clamped in position between the adjacent faces of the discs 38 and 39.

The inner tube 38 has an external diameter to have a frictional t within the outer tube 31 so that the tubes will maintain their intertted positions without the use of any glues, mucilages or other securing means. That construction leaves the tubes 36 and 31 free to be pulled apart when it is desired to expose the parts of the flasher unit for repair and inspection without having to destroy the casing.

Means is provided for maintaining the base strip 29 Xedly in position within the inner tube 36. That means is characterized by laterally aligned pairs of lugs 40 and 4I formed along the longitudinal sides of the base strip 20. Those lugs 48 and 4I are engaged with complementary slots 42 and 43 formed in diainetrically opposite sides of the inner tube 36. When the tubes 36 and 31 `are assembled, the outer tube 31 main- 7 of the wire i5. The addition of the slots 50 eliminates the need for a tubular contact rivet, so that the contact rivet 30 can be a duplicate of the contact rivet 2B.

In all other respects, the form of the invention shown in Fig. 12 is similar to that previously described and like parts are identied by the same reference numerals.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the preoise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming Within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A fiasher comprising a base strip of dielectric material, a bi-metallic contact strip mounted at one end on said base strip and having a contact at its free end, a second contact mounted on said base strip in alignment with said contact of said contact strip, a third contact mounted on said base strip between the attached end of said contact strip and said second contact, aheater coil mounted on but insulated from said contact strip and having one end secured to said contact strip and its other end secured to said third contact, and a casing enclosing said base strip and including a pair of interiitted tubes slipped into position over said base strip from opposite ends thereof, said tubes having their outer ends closed by discs positioned between the ends of said base strip and inturned end portions of said tubes.

2. A flasher comprising a base strip of dielectric material, a bi-metallic contact strip mounted at one end on said base strip and having a contact at its free end, a second contact mounted on said base strip in alignment with said contact of said contact strip, a third contact mounted on said base strip between the attached end of said contact strip and said second contact, a heater coil mounted on but insulated from said contact strip and having one end secured to said Contact strip and its other end secured to said third contact, and a casing enclosing said base strip and including a pair of intertted tubes slipped into position over said base strip from opposite ends there-of, said tubes having their outer ends closed by discs positioned between' the ends of said base strip and inturned end portions of said tubes, said discs having holes and said base strip having cutouts in its ends aligned with said holes providing clearance for having electric Wires passed into and out of said casing.

3. A flasher comprising a. base strip ofdielectric material, a bi-metallic contact strip mounted at one end on said base strip and having a contact at its free end, a second contact mounted on said base strip in alignment with said contact of said contact strip, a third contact mounted on said base strip between the attached endtof said contact strip and said second contact, a heater coil mounted on but insulated from said contact strip and having one end secured to said contact strip and its other end securedv to said third contact, and a casing enclosing said base strip and including a pair of interfitted tubes slipped into position over said base strip from opposite ends thereof, said third contact being a tubular rivet and the said otherend of said heater coil being extended into said tubular rivet and soldered thereto.

4. A flasher comprising a base strip of dielec- 8 tric material, a bi-metallic contact strip mounted at one end on said base strip and having a contact at its free end, a second contact mounted on said base strip in alignment with said contact of said contact strip, a third contact mounted on said base strip between the attached end of said contact strip and said second contact, a heater coil mounted on but insulated from said contact strip and having one end secured to said contact strip and its other end secured to said third contact, and a casing enclosing said base strip and including a pair of interiitted tubes slipped into position over said base strip from opposite ends thereof, said base strip having slots extended in from its longitudinal side edges and on opposite sides of said third contact, said heater coil having its said other end extended through one of said slots and connected to said third contact on the other side of said base strip.

5. A flasher comprising a base strip of dielectric material, a bi-metallic contact strip mounted at one end on said base strip and having a con tact at its free end, a second contact mounted on said base strip in alignment with said contact of said contact strip, a third contact mounted on said base strip between the attached end of said contact strip and said second contact, a heater coil mounted on but insulated from said contact strip and having one end secured to said contact strip and its other end secured to said third contact, and a casing enclosing said base strip and including a pair of interfitted tubes slipped into position over said base strip from opposite ends thereof, and means holding said base strip against longitudinal movement relative to the inner of said intertted tubes.

6. A iiasher comprising a base strip of dielectric material, a bi-metallic contact strip mounted at one end on said base strip and having a contact at its free end, a second contact mounted on said base strip in alignment with said contact of said contact strip, a third contact mounted on said base strip between the attached end of said contact strip and said second contact, a heater coil mounted on but insulated from said Contact strip and having one end secured to said contact strip and its other end secured to said third contact, and a casing enclosing said base strip and including a pair of interiitted tubes slipped into position over said base strip from opposite ends thereof, and laterally aligned pairs of lugs extending from the longitudinal side edges of said base strip, the inner of said intertted tubes having aligned diametrically opposed pairs of said slots into which said pairs of lugs are engaged holding said base strip against longitudinal movement relative to said tubes.

7. A casing for enclosing an elongated base strip of insulation material mounting a heater controlled electrical flasher or the like, said casing comprising an inner'tube including an inturned rim slipped into position over the base strip from one end thereof, a disc closing one end of said inner tube at said inturned rim, an outer tube slipped into position over said inner tube from the open end of said inner tube and including an inturned rim, a disc closing the end of said outer tube adjacent said rim remote from the closed end of said inner tube, and means holding the base strip xedly in position Within said inner tube.

8. A casing for enclosing an elongated base strip of insulation material mounting a heater controlled electrical flasher or the like, said casing comprising an inner tube including an inturned rim slipped into position ever the base strip from one end thereof, a disc closing one end of said inner tube at said inturned rim, an outer tube slipped into position over said inner tube from the open end of said inner tube and including an inturned rim, a disc closing the end of said outer tube adjacent said rim remote from the closed end of said inner tube, and means holding the base strip xedly in position within said inner tube, said inner tube having an external diameter to be frictionally received within said outer tube holding said tubes in their engaged positions.

9. A casing for enclosing an elongated base strip of insulation material mounting a heater controlled electrical flasher or the like, said casing comprising an inner tube including an inturned rim slipped into position over the base strip from one end thereof, a disc closing one end of said inner tube at said inturned rim, an outer tube slipped into position over said inner tube from the open end of said inner tube and including an inturned rim, a disc closing the end of said outer tube adjacent said rim remote from the closed end of said inner tube, and means holding the base strip nxedly in position Within said inner tube, said discs being positioned between the ends of the base strip and inturned end portions of the respective tubes.

10. A casing for enclosing an elongated base strip of insulation material mounting a heater controlled electrical flasher or the like, said casing comprising an inner tube including an inturned rim slipped into position over the base strip from one end thereof, a disc closing one end of said inner tube at said inturned rim, an outer tube slipped into position over said inner tube from the open end of said inner tube and including an inturned rim, a disc closing the end of said outer tube adjacent said rim remote from the closed end of said inner tube, and means holding the base strip xedly in position within said inner tube, said discs having concentric holes for the passage of electric wires through the casing.

11. A casing for enclosing an elongated base strip of insulation material mounting a heater controlled electrical asher or the like, said casing comprising an inner tube including an inturned rim slipped into position over the base strip from one end thereof, a disc closing one end of said inner tube at said inturned rim, an outer tube slipped into position over said inner tube from the open end of said inner tube and including an inturned rim, a disc closing the end of said outer tube adjacent said rim remote from the closed end of said inner tube, and means holding the base strip xedly in position Within said inner tube, said holding means comprising laterally aligned pairs of lugs extending from the longitudinal side edges of the base strip, said inner tube having aligned diametrically opposed pairs of slots into which said pairs of lugs are engaged.

12. A casing for enclosing an elongated base strip of insulation material mounting a heater controlled electrical asher or the like, said casing comprising an inner tube slipped into position over the base strip from one end thereof, a disc closing one end or" said inner tube, an outer tube slipped into position over said inner tube from the open end of said inner tube, a disc closing the end of said outer tube remote from theA closed end of said inner tube, and means holding the base strip iixedly in position within said inner tube, said holding means cornprising laterally aligned pairs of lugs extending from the longitudinal side edges oi the base strip, said inner tube having aligned diametrically opposed pairs of slots into which said pairs of lugs are engaged, said base strip being of a length greater than the length of said inner tube between the inner face of its disc and its open end so that the end of said base strip adjacent the open end of said inner tube will project slightly therefrom causing said base strip to be clamped between said discs when said inner tube is extended fully into said outer tube.

13. A nasher comprising a base strip of dielectric material, a bi-metallic contact strip mounted at one end on said base strip and having a contact at its free end, a second contact mounted on said base strip in alignment with said contact of said contact strip, a third contact mounted on said base strip between the attached end of said contact strip and said second contact, a heater coil mounted on but insulated from said contact strip and having one end secured to said contact strip and its other end secured to said third contact, and a casing enclosing said base strip, the attachment of the said one end of said heater coil to said contact strip comprising a slit extended from the free end of said contact strip, said slit being arranged at an oblique angle to the adjacent side of said contact strip so that the material of said contact strip between the inner end of said slit and the adjacent longitudinal side of said contact strip will be of less width than the material of said contact strip between the outer end of said slit and the adjacent longitudinal side of said contact strip, the said one end of said heater coil being wound about the narrower material of said contact strip at the inner end of said slit.

NOEL J. LITUCI-IY.

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